THE SERIES

[Visit RoadToIndy.Info for a full overview of the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.]

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires debuted as a new series in 2013, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder system bridging the gap between the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. The series' champion is awarded a scholarship package from Mazda of over $790,000 to advance to Indy Lights competition the following year.

Aaron Telitz of Team Pelfrey claimed the 2016 title and will advance to Indy Lights in 2017 via the Mazda scholarship system.

It is an exciting time for Pro Mazda with the introduction of the new Mazda-powered Tatuus PM-18 chassis in 2018. Teams will take delivery of the new car in time for a concerted summer test and development program in 2017. During the transitional year, additional incentives are in place for competitors including an increase in the champion's Mazda scholarship from $601,700 to $790,300, bringing the total event and year-end prizes to over $1.1M, plus a one-day Indy Lights test for each of the top-three finishers in the championship and a new Pro Mazda Rookie of the Year Mazda Car Award which features a new Mazda street car of choice to the winning driver. Entry fee discounts are also available.

HISTORY

The series has served as a vital step on the career path of many of today's top drivers since 1991. Graduates include Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Marco Andretti, Jack Hawksworth, James Hinchcliffe, Sage Karam, Spencer Pigot, Graham Rahal and Tristan Vautier, NASCAR veteran Michael McDowell, and sports car talent Joey Hand amongst many others.

SCHEDULE

Pro Mazda will feature a condensed, six-weekend schedule of 12 races in order to allow teams to dovetail their racing commitments with a summer testing development program of the new PM-18 chassis.

All races will feature live streaming shows on indycar.com, promazda.com and the RoadtoIndy.TV App including pre- and post-race coverage. Additional coverage such as post-race press conferences and special events will be streamed on the series website and the RoadtoIndy.TV App.

The popular RoadToIndy.TV and RoadtoIndy.TV App will continue to provide behind-the-scenes content, race recap episodes, special features, live streaming and live shows of Mazda Road to Indy on and off-track activities.

In 2016, the Mazda Road to Indy became the first American racing series with a dedicated broadcast channel on demand via Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku and, most recently, the Xbox One Official App.

CARS

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires features open-wheel, single-seat, open-cockpit cars with front and rear wings. The carbon fiber chassis, which was introduced in 2004, is built to FIA standards.

VP Racing Fuels is the Official Fuel of Pro Mazda.

A new chassis will be introduced in 2018. The PM-18 will use the USF-17 chassis - introduced in 2017 - as the base car to help control the operational costs for teams who wish to move up. The USF-17 is a full carbon monocoque chassis built to the latest FIA F3 test specifications with additional safety features to meet the specific needs of racing in the United States. These features include full Zylon side intrusion panels and reinforced bulkheads to strengthen the chassis for racing on oval circuits. The USF-17 also features a six-speed paddle shift gearbox, four-way adjustable dampers, specific design aluminum American Racing wheels, Cosworth data system, LCD steering wheel and ECU, four piston caliper PFC brakes and IndyCar-specific quick jack and roll hoop attachments.

The PM-18 adds more power over the USF-17 from a Mazda SKYACTIV engine, more sophisticated aerodynamics with a revised underbody and diffuser, a three-element rear wing and a front wing with adjustable composite wing flaps. The PM-18 also adds a higher level Cosworth data system to help train the next level of drivers and engineers in the Mazda Road to Indy.

ENGINES

Pro Mazda currently utilizes the Mazda Renesis rotary engine as remanufactured and serviced by SpeedSource Race Engineering. The engine generates approximately 260 horsepower - 90 horsepower more than a USF2000 Mazda MZR powerplant - and is capable of powering cars to speeds of 160 mph.

Single car teams will receive three bonus points as an equivalency to multi-car teams. Only the two best results will count in the team championship for teams fielding more than two entries.

PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will distribute over $1.1 million in prizes and awards in 2017. The series champion will receive a scholarship package from Mazda of $790,300 to advance to Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2018. Additional champion’s awards include a Cooper Tires Award for tires and series award for race entries.

Each of the top-three finishers in the championship will receive a one-day Indy Lights test. There is also a new Pro Mazda Rookie of the Year Mazda Car Award which features a new Mazda street car of choice to the winning driver.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

The Mazda Road to Indy Summit and Oval Clinic is a three-part educational and promotional program held during the season. The platform provides valuable education on a variety of topics including marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, fitness and wellness, social media and a comprehensive introduction to oval track racing led by industry experts. It also features activities such as high-profile autograph sessions and fan Q&As, networking reception, team owner meet-and-greets, race shop tours and pace laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Verizon IndyCar Series drivers. Additionally, the current points leader will pace the Freedom 100 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field on Carburetion Day and be interviewed in front of the Indianapolis 500 crowd only minutes before the race.

CURRENT TRACK RECORDS

Streets of St. Petersburg

Qualifying: Conor Daly

1:10.352 = 92.108 mph

3/27/2010

Race: Jack Hawksworth

1:11.439 = 90.707 mph

3/24/2012

Indianapolis Motor Speedway RC

Qualifying: Patricio O'Ward

1:22.8800 = 105.941 mph

5/13/2016

Race: Patricio O'Ward

1:23.2548 = 105.464 mph

5/14/2016

Road America

Qualifying: Adrian Carrio

2:03.849 = 117.666 mph

8/19/2006

Race: Pablo Donoso

2:05.302 = 116.301 mph

8/19/2006

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Qualifying: Nico Jamin

1:18.1385 = 104.031 mph

7/29/2016

Race: Nico Jamin

1:18.5977 = 103.423 mph

7/29/2016

Gateway Motorsports Park

N/A

N/A

Watkins Glen International

Qualifying: Alex Ardoin

1:46.223 = 117.602 mph

6/6/2008

Race: Charles Hall

1.46.632 = 117.151 mph

6/7/2008

MILESTONES:

Most Starts

Dan Tomlin Jr.

60

2001-2008

Most Wins

Matthew Brabham

13

2013

Most Wins in a Season

Matthew Brabham

13

2013

Most Poles

Jack Hawksworth

11

2012

Most Poles in a Season

Jack Hawksworth

11

2012

Most Podiums

Connor De Phillippi

19

2010-2012

Most Podiums in a Season

Matthew Brabham

15

2013

PAST CHAMPIONS:

Year

Driver

Entrant

2016

Aaron Telitz

Team Pelfrey

2015

Santiago Urrutia

Team Pelfrey

2014

Spencer Pigot

Juncos Racing

2013

Matthew Brabham

Andretti Autosport

2012

Jack Hawksworth

Team Pelfrey

2011

Tristan Vautier

JDC MotorSports

2010

Conor Daly

Juncos Racing

2009

Adam Christodoulou

JDC MotorSports

2008

John Edwards

AIM Autosport

2007

Dane Cameron

JDC MotorSports

2006

Adrian Carrio

World Speed Motorsports

2005

Raphael Matos

Ocean Tomo Racing

2004 *

Michael McDowell

Valley Motor Center

2003

Luis Schiavo

Racers Edge Motorsports

2002

Guy Cosmo

Racers Edge Motorsports

2001

Scott Bradley

World Speed Motorsports

2000

Bernardo Martinez

Team Bucknum

1999 +

Joey Hand

S3 Racing

1998

Ian Lacy

S3 Racing

1997

Tony Buffomante

Valley Motor Center

1996

Rich Stephens

Miller Team Racing

1995

Mark Rodrigues

Valley Motor Center

1994

Brad Loehner

Loehner Racing

1993

Ben Massey

World Speed Motorsports

1992

Chuck West

World Speed Motorsports

1991

Mark Rodrigues

Valley Motor Center

(*) Series switched from tube-frame cars to carbon-fiber cars in 2004.
(+) First season of unified national Star Mazda Championship series. From 1991 – 1999 the series crowned regional and oval-track champions.